As the orgin of chopsticks, China is the first country in the world to use chopsticks. Chopsticks are called 
"Kuaizi" in Chinese and were called "Zhu" in ancient times. They are known to have been used at least 5,000 years ago in the Shang Dynasty (1766-1122 BC). The oldest chopsticks discovered were made of bronze. It is thought they were first used to lift hot food from the cooking pot, which was over the fire. Later, as fuel resources became scarce, food was cut into smaller pieces allowing for faster cooking and easier retrieval. The smaller pieces of food were easier to eat using chopsticks.
Chopsticks seems quite simple with only two small and thin sticks, but it is in possession of many functions, such as picking, moving, nipping, mixing and digging; moreover, it is convenient for use and cheap in price. Besides, chopsticks are also unique tableware in the world. Anyone using chopsticks, no matter Chinese or foreigners, would without exception admire the inventor of chopsticks.
Chopsticks can be classified into five groups based on the materials used to make them, i.e., wood, metal, bone, stone and compound chopsticks. Bamboo and wood chopsticks are the most popular ones used in Chinese homes. Ivory chopsticks are to the Chinese what silver serving utensils are to Westerners. Some emperors and important people 
used silver chopsticks as it was thought that the silver would turn black if food was poisoned. This has been proven to be untrue.
By 500 AD the use of chopsticks had spread to other countries including Korea, Japan and Vietnam. The differences
of Chopsticks between those counties are:
• Chinese: longer sticks that are square in cross section at one end (where they are held) and round in cross section at the other (where they contact the food), ending in a blunt tip.
• Korean: medium-length stainless-steel tapered rods, with a flat rectangular cross section. (Traditionally, they were made of brass or silver.) Many Korean metal chopsticks are ornately decorated at the grip. They are sometimes used to pick up food onto the spoon, which then send food into the mouth.
• Japanese: short to medium length sticks that taper to a pointed end. This may be attributed to the fact that the
Japanese diet includes large amounts of whole bony fish. Japanese chopsticks are traditionally made of wood and are lacquered. Some chopstick sets include two lengths of chopsticks: shorter ones for women and longer ones for men. Child-sized chopsticks are widely sold.
• Vietnamese: long sticks that taper to a blunt point; traditionally wooden, but now made of plastic as well. Vietanmese chopstick is a large pair of flat chopsticks that is used to serve rice from a pot.
Nowadays, chopsticks serve many new functions besides tableware. For example, you can buy a pair of exquisite chopsticks as a gift to your friends and relatives. In Chinese, 'chopsticks' reads 'Kuaizi', which means to have sons soon, so a newly-married couple will be very happy to accept chopsticks as their wedding gift. Skillful craftsmen painted beautiful sceneries on chopsticks to make them like fine artworks. Many people love to collect these dainty chopsticks as their treasure.
Etiquette in China
1. In Chinese culture, it is normal to hold the rice bowl¡ªrice in China is rarely served on a plate¡ªup to one's mouth and use chopsticks to push rice directly into the mouth.
2. It is acceptable to transfer food to closely related people (e.g. grandparents, parents, spouse, children, or significant others) if they are having difficulty picking up the food. Also it is a sign of respect to pass food to the elderly first before the dinner starts.
3. It is poor etiquette to tap chopsticks on the edge of one's bowl, as beggars are believed to make this noise to attract attention.
4. It is impolite to spear food with a chopstick.
5. It is rude to use the chopstick to dig for food in the common dish.
6. It is considered poor etiquette to point rested chopsticks towards others seated at the table.
7. Chopsticks should not be left vertically stuck into a bowl of rice because it resembles the ritual of incense-burning that symbolizes "feeding" the dead and death in general.
